[ 3 ” ] 
ner, and that they continue to do fo till the month 
of Auguff. 
They wait on the fide of fome of the extenfive 
woods in that neighbourhood, before day- break, for 
the return of the woodcock from his feeding in the 
night-time, and always depend upon having a very 
good chance of thus fhooting many of them. 
The Dantzickers, however, might be employed 
the whole fummer near thefe woods in the day- 
time, without ever feeing fuch a bird; and it feems 
therefore not improbable, that it arifes from our not 
waiting for them at twilight or day-break, that they 
are never obferved by Englifhmen in the fummer. - 
If this bird fhould, however, be feen in the night, 
it is immediately fuppofed to be an owl, which a. 
woodcock does not differ much from in its flight. 
To thefe reafons for woodcocks not being ob- 
ferved, it may be added, that the bird is believed to . 
be abfolutely mute, and confequently, never difco- 
vers itfelf by its call. 
If it be ftill contended, that the nefl: or young 
muffc fometimes be Humbled upon, though in the • 
centre of extenfive woods,., or large bogs, the flfkin. 
(or aberdavine *) is a much more extraordinary in-- 
fiance of concealing its neft and young. 
The plumage of this bird is rather bright than \ 
otherwife ; and the fong, though not very plealing, , 
yet is very audible, both which circumftances fhould ! 
difcover it at all times ; yet Kramer -f*; informs us, , 
that, though immenfe numbers breed annualLy oni 
* Brit. Zool. p. 309.. 
f Elenchus Animaiium per Auftriam, p. 36 i. Viennse, 1756, 
I ; the; 
